Improvement in methods of laying submarine-telegraph cables



UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

OWEN G. WARREN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN METHODS 0F LAYlNG SUBMARlNE-TELEGRAPH CABLES.

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 21,634, dated September2S, 1858.

To alt whom it may concern:

3e it known that I, OWEN G. WARREN, of the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful mode and apparatus for layingtelegraplrwires at the bottom ofthe sea; and I hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, reference being had to the drawings hereuntoannexed and making part of this specification.

Figure l is a sectional view, showing the telegraph-reel (attached tothe reel-boat) towed by Steamers; Fig. 2, a plan showing the reelboatand Steamers; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the telegraph-reel, showing the cable wound upon it; Fig. 4, a side view ofthe reel; F-ig.5,-asection (longitudinal) of the reel with the axle or shaft runningthrough it; Fig. 6, a plan of the reel-boat, which may be square at thebow on deck, like a scow, as represented, or pointed; Fig. 7, a side ofI[he reel-boat with hawser for towing. y

My plan of laying down a telegraphic cable is to wind it upon a reel, A,immersed in the water nearly to the surface, and tow it across theocean. Ilo this end I would make the cable only so much more than thespecificV gravity of water as would be requisite to sink it with thenecessary rapidity. I would take, for instance, seven telegraph wires,each coated with gutta-percha, twist them into a rope in one directionand cover them with hempen rope twisted in the opposite direction. Thiswould be heavy enough to sink fast enough. If not, some wires could beintermingled with the rope. The reel I would make either of timberproperly coppered, or of boiler-iron hollow. In either case a suflicientbuoyancy must be obtained to support the cable above water-that is, thetop just out of water-when wound npon it. One end of the cable, beingleft out at lan indicator, which should show the speed of the boat. y

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. rlhe use of areel, A, immersed in the water, to deliver atelegraph-cable at the bottom of the sea,constructed and operatedsubstantially as above described.

2. The combination of the reel-boat B with the reel for the convenienceof using the brake or operating-engine in the manner above described.

OWEN G. WARREN.

Witnesses:

Jox-1N D. SUE'rEvENT,

E. G. THOMAS. l.

